Bahrain Grand Prix: McLaren admit to rear wing contingency plan

McLaren have admitted they have a "contingency plan" in place should the car they hope will carry either Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button to the 2010 title fails to pass pre-race scrutineering in Bahrain this weekend.

Ready to roll: McLaren say they are confidant that their new MP4-25 is within the rulesPhoto: PA

By Tom Cary

6:59PM GMT 09 Mar 2010

It emerged last week that Red Bull had asked the FIA, the sport's governing body, for clarification regarding the legality of their rivals' rear wing, which they believe is making clever use of air flow through the engine cover and air box – and perhaps even from the cockpit – to stall the wing at high-speed and deliver a speed advantage.

Both McLaren and the FIA have repeatedly stressed that they are unconcerned, but ultimately the race stewards in Bahrain may take a different view.

The FIA's technical chief, Charlie Whiting, had to cancel a visit to McLaren to check the car for himself last Friday after his plane from Brazil was delayed, but he is preparing to take a look in Bahrain.

"Charlie's going to continue to confirm that he's happy," McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale said. "It's regrettable that his plane got cancelled while leaving Sao Paulo. It would have been nice to take the opportunity to finish it off in the UK, but we're quite relaxed about it.

"We've spoken to [Ferrari team principal] Stefano Domenicali and some of the other team principals and colleagues and of course everyone wants to see clarity.